27 November 2019

My favourite ski resort is Alpe D’Huez in France and this year we decided to take the children for the first time. We flew into Grenoble and it’s a 2 hour coach journey up to the resort. Flights also go into Chambery or Geneva. You travel up the ’21 bends’ famous in the Tour De France. We travelled with a group of friends and stayed in a Chalet Hotel which is my personal favourite when skiing. This one also had an outdoor hot tub overlooking the piste. The cooked breakfast of your choice is served to you each morning before you head down to the boot room to get kitted up for the day. Our chalet was just a very short ski down to a lift to whisk you to the bottom of the slopes. I dropped my twins off at Ski School at 9am and then went off to ski with our friends before returning to collect them at midday. They had a blast and picked up skiing so easily (as often kids do!) and then we headed off to ski the nice family friendly ‘Marcels Farm ski area’. With some coaching from us, the children were flying down the slopes! When the slopes close around 4/430pm we often sit and have a drink at the bottom of the slopes before skiing back to our chalet. Then its time for afternoon tea and a rest before canapes and dinner around 8pm. Alpe D’Huez is called the I’isle Du Soleil as it has a reputation for having the most days of sunshine on the ski slopes and that's one reason I love it! It’s a snowsure resort as its high so we have never had an issue with lack of snow even skiing into mid April. We had a huge snowfall one day where it began skiing one morning and snowed all night! Then we went on to have lovely sunny ‘bluebird’ days. Its part of the Grand Domain ski area and has excellent terrain for all capabilities. It offers the longest black run in Europe, The Sarenne 16km from top to bottom! It also has the ski lift voted the scariest, and known as the Scare Chair which links two mountains and certainly makes my stomach drop every time I go on it! There are numerous mountain restaurants serving delicious food, stopping for a refuel break at lunchtime is a must for me! We often ski down to other villages such as Oz en Oisans, Vaujany and Aris en Oisans for lunch or coffee. The apres ski nightlife here is fantastic and this year the chalet we chose was right opposite our favourite bar called The Underground. Another must is the Wednesday afternoon party at Folie Douce – a restaurant/club at the top of one of the lifts where live Dj’s, singers and dancers party until the last lift descends around 5pm. We always choose to ski down and this year were the last people on the slopes being ushered down by the ski patrol! All great fun! Our arrival day was my birthday and the chalet staff presented me with a delicious cake at dinner which was a lovely touch. My twins had their 14th birthday in the middle of the week and the chalet staff kindly made them a birthday cake and we surprised them with a husky dog ride which they absolutely loved! They picked up skiing effortlessly and enjoyed every minute of the holiday!

27 November 2019

I was lucky enough to spend a week in St Lucia courtesy of the St Lucia Tourism Authority. Their tagline for this beautiful island is ‘Let her inspire you’ and she certainly did! We visited lots of lovely hotels, went zip-lining, covered ourselves in mud at the sulphur mud baths, had a day on a catamaran and an evening party cruise. We stayed for 3 nights at The Landings Resort which has its own private marina and a long sandy beach. The hotel has three restaurants and is well suited for families or groups as it offers one, two, three bedroom villas suites which are like luxurious home from home rather than standard hotel accommodation. The staff here are friendly and there are numerous water sports on offer. We sailed down the West coast and visited the stunning Marigot Bay Hotel. This was a modern, contemporary property with amazing views from the rooms and just a gorgeous overall setting. We then hopped on a speedboat to visit Anse Chastanet, a romantic hideaway set in a lush rainforest overlooking a silver sandy bay. We visited its sister property called Jade Mountain. This is a real ‘wow’ resort! A unique and luxurious collection of just 29 suites overlooking St Lucia’s magnificent Pitons. This hotel attracts celebrities and those looking for something truly special! The innovatively designed hotel has won numerous awards including Best Hotel Room and I can see why! With their own infinity pools, living area and extravagant bathrooms and beds all occupying one huge space, the suites open out to the sea and mountains beyond and have no windows, just one open side! One of my favourite hotels was Calabash Cove, a romantic hillside hotel offering exceptional cuisine and service with swim up rooms and a pretty garden path down to a small private golden beach. We also dined at Cap Maison which is a stunning 5* hotel set on a bluff overlooking its crescent shaped beach. The Cliff at Cap is a well renowned restaurant offering top class dining and a huge selection of wines. There is a tiny private dining are down over the rocks called Rock Maison which even has a champagne zip wire! How fantastic is that? We visited Rendezvous which was another favourite all inclusive boutique resort dedicated to couples only. The pools, rooms and restaurants were all beautiful and this hotel had such a nice feel about it. We also visited The Body Holiday which is a wellness resort offering a unique personal experience with emphasis on well being. You can do as much or as little as you please here, surrounded by beautiful scenery, a huge spa and treatment area and dine overlooking the beach. We saw Sandals Grande and Sandals La Toc both of which I would recommend for that all inclusive luxury experience. Sandals Grande even has over the water bungalows! We then stayed 4 nights at Windjammer Landings. I was looking forward to returning here to see the changes having stayed here in 2013. They have added new beachfront rooms and a new restaurant. The resort offers rooms and one, two, three, four bedroom villas with private pools set on the hillside. Another hotel I was looking forward to seeing was the St James Club Morgan Bay. I had previously stayed here in the mid 90’s. Its been taken over and improved greatly. It’s a great 4* choice and offers so much to do and a variety of restaurants and a wonderful sandy beach. We also visited Bay Gardens Beach Resort which has an inflatable assault course at sea – great for kids and teens, also Bay Gardens Inn, Harbour Club by Hilton, Starfish Resort, Royalton, Mystique Resort, Coconut Bay Resort and Serenity at Coconut Bay. We had dinner at the Coco Palm Hotel and danced to a live singer before heading to the island’s famous Friday Night Street Party at Gros Islet which locals and tourist attend and drink and dance to local bands in the street. Certainly, an experience! St Lucia is a beautiful island, green and lush with a hotel to suit everyone.

26 November 2019

I decided to book a cheap last minute holiday for my husband and myself and came across a great deal to the Greek island of Thassos. Thassos has no airport but the transfer to the mainland is organised so smoothly it really doesn't matter. You fly into Kavala, have a 15 mins coach journey to the port where you then hop onto the ferry where you can sit in the sun with a cold beer on deck for the hour journey to the island. We then had a 30 min transfer to the resort of Limenaria. We stayed in a basic friendly family run hotel right on the beachfront in the centre of town. The resort has a long sandy beach and a little port which has an excellent selection of restaurants to sample. The food we had each evening was delicious, what's not to love about Greek cuisine?! We hired a mini buggy to explore the island. Each morning we set off to stop at another gorgeous beach and have lunch, swim and sunbathe. Thassos is blessed with countless beaches and the sea is clear and blue. We drove an hour one day to reach the famous Marble Beach. You drive through a marble quarry to a secluded beach where the sand is crushed up marble! The roads are quiet and easy to navigate and take you through pine forests with some breathtaking views out to sea. There is a ring road to take you around the whole island. Thassos is not as well known as some other Greek islands and therefore remains a bit of a hidden gem. We hardly heard another English accent (which we love) and most visitors were lovely friendly families who drive over and catch the ferry from nearby Romania. Apparently, Thassos had the highest number of repeat visitors than any other Greek island and I can see why. Its a truly special place and I for sure intend to return one day!

26 November 2019

Just back from a short break to the Moroccan city of Fes courtesy of the Tourist Board and Air Arabia. Wonderful place to see the real Morocco, friendly people, delicious food and lovely hotels and Riads visited in Fes, Meknès and Ifrane - the ski resort! Only 3.5hrs flight away, great value and perfect for some winter sunshine!

26 November 2019

Back from my trip to Miami and Bahamas with my 11 fellow Travel Weekly Cover Stars! What an experience! We each had a photoshoot to be featured on the cover of the UK's most prestigious travel publication, the Travel Weekly each month in 2019. We all had our top secret photo shoots by a talented (and patient!) New Jersey photographer in different locations around the hotels and ship! I look forward to seeing everyone on their front covers in 2019 I’ve been lucky enough to have visited Miami before but still felt excited to be there and to stay at the wonderful Eden Roc Hotel. The hotel was built in 1955 and has welcomed the likes of Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball as guests. It’s now been transformed into a contemporary beach-side oasis. Right in the heart of Miami Beach, rooms either face the ocean or the city skyline. The hotel also has the Nobu Hotel and celebrity favourite Nobu restaurant adjoining. South Beach can easily be reached by a 30min walk or hop on the free trolley bus that stops outside We then embarked on a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas on board NCL’s Norwegian Sky. The ship holds 2000 passengers but wasn’t one of the huge ships you can get lost on! The food on board was fantastic! We tried the buffets, the main elegant dining room, the French Bistro, Cagney’s Steakhouse and Il Adajio Italian. The food was of a very high standard and service on board was faultless. The cruise had a fun, vibrant atmosphere with sailaway parties leaving each port and an evening white party.We visited Grand Bahama, Nassau and NCL’s private island, Grand Stirrup Cay. The beaches are stunning with white powder sand .Each island offers an array of excursions and we were lucky enough to swim with pigs on our last day! The Bahamas short cruises are excellent value for money and works perfect as an add on to any Florida holiday.

11 October 2017

I booked this trip as a last minute quick getaway in the school holidays along with another family. Zante is in the Ionian Islands of Greece and we chose the resort of Tsilivi on the East coast just 25 minutes from the airport. We stayed at the Alamis Apartments in Tsilvi for a week. The apartments are family run and have one good size swimming pool, a bar and pool table, nothing fancy but clean and comfortable for a cheap week away. The location was excellent. There is a mini mart next door selling everything you could want and the main strip with all the shops and restaurants was just a 3 minute walk away. The beach was just 100 metres walk away in the other direction. Tsilvi has a great choice of restaurants, all offering generous menu choices and lovely Greek and international food. We ate out each evening and never had a bad meal! There are lots of shops selling souvenirs to browse in too and a few bars but nothing seemed too rowdy here so ideal for families. The beach at Tsilivi is one of the most famous on the island. It’s a vast sandy bay with a Blue Flag status that gently shelves into the sea so great for young children to paddle. There are sunbeds for hire and pedaloes and it's easy to grab lunch overlooking the beach at one of the hotels. We spent a day at Zante Water Village, just a short taxi ride from Tsilvi. The whole park was very impressive and the kids had a great time on the huge array of slides and rides. There is a restaurant and shop and a toddler area offering more gentle water features. Would highly recommend a visit here. If there’s one place you can’t miss in Zante, it's Smugglers Cove. We went on a Pirate Ship day trip which was great fun and a nice way to see the coastline and caves along the North West part of the island. The cove, originally known as Navagio Beach, is famous for a shipwreck from a ship which ran aground in 1982 and is washed up on the beach. The cove is only accessible by boat and the blue water is overlooked by high white cliffs giving the sea a milky blue hue, a really striking colour! If you’re lucky you may spot turtles around Zante’s coast line too. The island is one of the most important breeding grounds for the Loggerhead turtle and some of the islands beaches including the Bay of Laganas are protected areas. I loved Zante and would definitely like to return and explore even more of the island.

09 October 2017

In March I was fortunate to go on a four-day visit hosted by the Moroccan Tourist Board to see what this wonderful country has to offer. We began with three nights in Marrakech. Just a 15 minute drive from the modern and impressive Menara Airport. I was pleasantly surprised by the tree lined avenues and how clean and cosmopolitan the place is. We stayed at the 5* Movenpick Mansour Hotel, a luxury property with a grand entrance and 3 inviting swimming pools. Rooms were modern with large marble bathrooms. The hotel is in a great location close to restaurants and cafes and just a 10-minute drive from the medina and old town. After a quick unpack we were off to explore the medina with its labyrinth of souks and traders. Here you will find a colourful mix of everything from lighting, leather goods, spices, shoes, clothing and glassware. We emerged into the vast El Jemaa El-Fna, a huge square filled with street food, stalls, vendors and entertainment such as snake charmers and acrobats. The square is surrounded by restaurants and rooftop cafes. We watched the sunset from a rooftop bar whilst sipping the local mint tea. We then went to a nearby restaurant called Salama. This was a contemporary restaurant offering classic Moroccan cuisine along with entertainment in the form of belly dancers swirling between the tables. It was great fun and the food was delicious. We had baked breads, meze and mouth-watering lamb tagine with potatoes and vegetables. A thoroughly enjoyable evening and I would definitely recommend it to give you a taste of all things Moroccan! Day two took us out of the city to the lovely Beachcomber Royal Palm Hotel, a stunning golf and spa resort. Set in vast grounds, the resort is perfect for couples or families. The views across the golf course take in the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. This luxury resort has a very contemporary feel but still keeping a touch of Morocco. The sports facilities and children’s club looked fantastic! This is an ideal place to stay for those who want to be close enough to Marrakech and the medina but still have a hotel with a relaxed resort feel. We headed back to the Medina and visited the extremely opulent and luxurious Royal Mansour hotel. This is a unique property with luxurious touches bursting with Moroccan character. All the rooms are individual riads set in the lush grounds. Each riad is like your own private house with central courtyard living room and then bedrooms on the first floor and rooftop terrace. The two-bedroom riads even have rooftop plunge pools and butler service. There is a communal swimming pool and cabanas you can rent for the day. The hotel is within walking distance of Marrakech’s’ medina. This place has hosted royalty and presidents and may not be within everyone’s budget but a really special one-off property! This evening we had dinner at a place called Le Palace. This is a fine dining restaurant mixed with a club. It has its own DJ and cocktail bar and we dined whilst listening to a fantastic singer. There is a dress code of jackets for gentleman but the atmosphere was not stuffy at all, in fact the whole place erupted in people dancing once dinner had finished. A great night out! On day three we headed out and up to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains to visit the newly opened L’Armandier Hotel. Just an hour’s drive from the city so prefect for a two-centre combination, with views over surrounding countryside that are hard to beat. Friendly and knowledgeable staff are on hand to talk to you about the local area, the flora and fauna and advise on activities that are possible here such as walking, cycling or simply relaxing by the gorgeous pool. The resort is made up of individual villas all in keeping with the local Berber style. On day four we headed west for two hours to the coastal town of Essaouira. This is a popular spot for kite surfers and windsurfers due to its wind and waves. It has a long sandy stretch of beach with some cafes and overlooked by hotels. A two-minute walk from the beach takes you to the walled medina where you can meander at your own pace through all the little lanes to look at the shops and boutiques. We visited the Sofitel Hotel here which was about a 5-10 minute drive out of the town along the coast. This is an impressive, luxury resort overlooking vast expanses of sand dunes and sea. There were a number of pools, restaurants and a gorgeous spa. Perfect to team up as a two-centre option with Marrakech. I have to say I loved Morocco. I had visited the beach resort of Agadir years ago so was really looking forward to seeing Marrakech and was so impressed with what I saw and experienced. It’s only a three-hour flight from the UK and perfect for some winter sun on a short break. It has a unique blend of culture and modern. There are 5* luxury hotels but equally there are also the unique riads to stay in within the medina. This trip gave me the appreciation of why a riad would be a good option rather than a resort style hotel. The country felt very safe, with security taken seriously at the airport. The people were very friendly and proud of their country. I will definitely be recommending Morocco and hope to return again soon!

14 June 2016

Having visited the Caribbean over a dozen times, I knew I would love Cuba. What a beautiful place with such an interesting history. We flew to Holguin from Gatwick with Thomas Cook Airlines. The flight was fine and it helped that we had prebooked extra leg room seats. After an hour transfer on a modern air conditioned coach, we arrived at our hotel for the two weeks - the all inclusive 4* Sol Lunas Y Mares Resort in Guardalavaca. We were greeted by cocktails and a cheerful traditional Cuban band ! The great thing about this hotel for families is that you can pre book a family room which is actually two rooms guaranteed to be adjacent to one another. This was perfect for my family. The hotel has a Lunas side and a Mares side and rooms either overlook the bay behind or the sea the other way. The hotel sits on the stunning Esmeralda Beach and sunbeds are provided along with watersports such as pedaloes, hobbie cats and kayaks. The beach is soft white sand and the sea is one of the most turquoise blue I have ever seen - think Maldives clear ! One end is great for snorkeling as there is coral right up to the shore, whereas to the left the shore is pure soft sand. There is a bar and a lovely restaurant to grab lunch on the beach too. The hotel has a la carte Mexican, Italian and French restaurants that you book and can visit each once a week. Also there is a surf and turf, burger/snack restaurant and the main buffet which was very impressive. Daily entertainment and a daily little craft market kept everyone happy and the children loved the pool games organized. There is also a hotel run kids club for 5-12 year olds. All hotel staff seemed friendly and efficient. The hotel has 'theme nights' such as 'White Night' and a unusual Water Ballet Evening which we all enjoyed. Cuba is exceptionally good value for money, for us it worked out cheaper than Greece or Turkey. I would highly recommend this hotel for a family holiday. Cuba is the largest Caribbean island and is 780 miles long. The area of Guardalavaca is too far away from Havana to be able to visit the islands' capital city on a day trip. For this, you are best to stay in the Varadero beach area. You can still visit the city of Holguin to see the old cars, cigar factory and market if you want to see a real part of the country. We took two excursions which were great value for money and I would highly recommend. The first was a Dolphin swim and a sunset catamaran cruise. The dolphinarium is set in the nearby bay at sea so the dolphins are in the most 'natural environment' possible for captive dolphins. It was a wonderful experience ! The second trip was called 'Island Paradise' when we boarded a catamaran, set sail, enjoyed snorkeling with the guide and saw the most amazing shoals of fish and then you head to a secluded picture postcard beach for lunch in the restaurant there and time to swim/sunbathe or do a mini jeep safari. The guides on these trips talked about the history of Cuba and about the way of life here. Very interesting and we have since bought a book on Cuban History to learn more. Cuba is exceptionally good value for money, for us it worked out cheaper than Greece or Turkey. I would highly recommend this hotel for a family holiday. I've heard people say so often to visit Cuba now before the' Americans arrive and ruin it' - The Cuban people seem very proud of their country and the ones we spoke to all said how the country is in no hurry to suddenly open up MacDonald's' everywhere and be overrun with American tourists. Our rep summed it up when he said 'we have been talking to the US for 50 years and we will probably continue to do so for the next 50 years, doesn't mean anything will change' If you'd like to experience this amazing island, contact me for details/quotes.

23 September 2014

Santorini is a small but perfectly formed Greek Island and has been on my 'must visit' list for years. I finally spent a week here in July and it was everything and more than I expected it to be. The island is actually a submerged volcano and the part you see above water that forms Santorini and a couple of small surrounding islands is the rim, or caldera as it’s known. I stayed in the main beach resort of Kamari, just a ten minute ride from the islands' small airport. The beaches are mostly black on the island, a legacy of its volcanic past. Kamari's is a vast expanse of black pebbles leading to a crystal clear sea. The beach is long and parallel to it runs a promenade lined with trendy restaurants and bars all serving a sumptuous range of local and international dishes. There are rows upon rows of sunbeds and parasols along the beach and many are offered free if you lunch in the adjoining restaurant. There are water sports on offer here and relaxing beach side massages. By night the promenade is bustling with diners browsing the eateries and choosing a place to eat. There are a couple of livelier bars but no nightclubs. There is also an open air cinema on the outskirts of the resort where you can snuggle under a blanket and the stars to watch a film in this unique atmosphere. We hired a car for three days and I would highly recommend this, although the island does have a good bus service. You can drive from one end of the island to the other in about 45 minutes. A visit to the capital Fira (or Thira) is a must. This is where you will see the white washed buildings and blue domed churches seemingly clinging to the caldera rim 300 metres above the sea below. The web of little streets are pedestrianised and lined with little gift shops, jewellers, restaurant, bars and hotel entrances. The views are spectacular and if you stay for sunset you are in for a treat. This is also true at the town of Oia just a little further up the coast. This is the best place for watching the sun go down and people literally line the streets to capture the moment and start clapping when the sun finally disappears behind the horizon. I would recommend arriving early to grab a seat in a restaurant to truly make the most of the sunset. There are lots of little beaches and bays you can drive to. We visited the famous 'Red Beach' which really does have red sand and also the resort of Perissa which was a smaller version of Kamari. I thought Santorini was beautiful and wouldn't hesitate in recommending it to anyone wanting a cosmopolitan getaway.

24 March 2014

I have just returned from a wonderful week skiing in Alpe D'Huez. This is my second year in a row to the resort as it has everything I want from a skiing holiday. We had perfect snow conditions and wonderfully sunny days. I travelled with my partner and two other couples. We stayed at the Chalet Hotel Les Cimes. The hotel is in a good central location, just a two minute walk from the nearest lift. What really made the hotel was the staff, service and food! All the young British staff were fantastic! Very well organised, polite, efficient and friendly. The hotel sleeps around 80 guests in total and the day begins with a choice of cooked breakfast, pastries, toast, cereals etc. Your choice from the menu is taken for dinner and then we head out for our days skiing. Upon returning to the hotel, afternoon tea is laid out with homemade cakes, biscuits, tea and coffee. Dinner begins with a welcome drink and canapés each evening followed by the most delicious four course meal. The food was amazing, 5* restaurant standard easily. The chefs did a fantastic job. The rooms were large and clean, fairly basic but what you expect with skiing. Most have a lovely south facing balcony with beautiful views of the mountains. The hotel has a cosy bar with games area, boot room, dining room and reception area. The resort itself is just a two hour transfer from Chambery airport. You travel up the '21 bends' - famous as part of the Tour De France route. Alpe D'Huez lies on a high sunny plateau surrounded by a snow bowl offering mile after mile of varied pistes. The resort has an excellent snow record due to the high altitude, glacier and over 800 snow cannons. It’s an ideal resort to learn to ski or for children to learn as the nursery slopes are long and wide. There are over 100 red and blue runs so it’s great for intermediate-advanced skiers like myself. You can ski off for the day and have lunch at one of the connected villages. Advanced skiers won’t be disappointed either. The notoriously tricky 'Tunnel' run provides a difficult challenge and the black Sarenne run is the longest black run in Europe. The resort offers great après Ski. There are numerous bars and clubs. The resort also has supermarkets, shops, a large outdoor pool complex and ice skating rink of which one visit is included in your lift pass. I can thoroughly recommend a visit to this resort for skiers/boarders of all abilities.

28 November 2013

I spent a week at Sandals Regency La Toc on the stunning island of St Lucia and cannot recommend it highly enough. This 5* ultra all inclusive resort is set in 220 acres of beautiful grounds including its own 18 hole golf course. The hotel is set directly on a long sandy half mile beach. There are an array of water sports and land sports to choose from (all included of course). From tennis at the cutting edge hillside pavilion to workouts in the state-of-the-art fitness centre, and from water skiing across the jade waters to diving beneath them with our PADI certified scuba program, there is a myriad of activities for you to do it all, or nothing at all. We tended to do the latter! Relaxing and eating were top of the agenda! There is a wonderful Red Lane Spa offering all types of treatments and massages. My partner surprised me one day and had arranged a couple’s beachside massage with the spa and I have to say it was bliss! There are 8 restaurants to choose from! Romantic ambience, impeccable service, and scintillating international cuisine make every dining experience a holiday in itself. Sandals chefs are known for their authenticity and dedication to detail as is expected in the most acclaimed restaurants around the globe. We loved the Japanese Tepanyaki restaurant where you dine with fellow guests and have the food cooked right in front of you by your own entertaining chef! We also enjoyed the 5* silver service La Toc restaurant serving authentic French cuisine. And of course we couldn't resist trying the English pub - The Cricketers, for a pint and delicious Shepherd’s Pie! All the restaurants are included and unlike many hotels, you are not limited to the number of visits to each one. There are two other Sandals Resorts on the island and they offer a total of 22 restaurants to choose from on the 'dine around' service. There are free shuttles between the resorts so you can spend a day at a different hotel if you wish and try another dining experience. There are lots of different room types to choose from and we were lucky enough to stay in a Sunset Bluff Ocean view One Bedroom Butler Suite. These are located in the romantic Sunset Bluff area of the resort where you will find the Italian Restaurant, Arnandos and a secluded pool with its own swim up bar. We tended to have our breakfast served here in the morning, then relax by the pool before heading down to the main resort area to have our lunch then time either on the beach or by the main pool (the largest on the island!) Our suite was spacious and came with a separate sitting area with fully stocked bar, TV and balcony. Our bedroom featured a gorgeous mahogany four poster bed and Jacuzzi bath. We had a butler on hand who we could reach by mobile (handed to you on arrival in the Butler Lounge). You know you’ve arrived when you meet your own personal butler. Trained in accordance to the exacting standards by the Guild of Professional Butlers (they’re the ones who provide butlers to nobility and celebrities), your butler handles every detail of your holiday with unobtrusive grace. From drawing a rose-petal candlelit bath to pressing your wardrobe, whatever your whims, your butler is there to make sure your stay is beyond flawless. Of course being British, we tended to 'not bother the butler' too much! This is the perfect place for a wedding or honeymoon but I would also recommend to any couple who just enjoys impeccable 5* service and a wonderful choice of dining experiences. Sandals have resorts in St Lucia, Bahamas, Antigua (I've also been to this one), Jamaica, Grenada and Barbados. Please do not hesitate to contact me for a quote.

14 May 2013

I booked a two night trip to Venice as a Valentines surprise for my partner as it’s my favourite city in the world. I have been to some fantastic cities such as Sydney, Hong Kong and New York but for me there is something special about Venice. It is just an hour and half flight from Stansted then a 45 minute coach transfer to the Piazza Roma in Venice. This is where the cars and buses and any other type of motorised vehicle has to end its journey as Venice is traffic free and the world’s only pedestrian city. From this point it’s all about the canals! We caught a water bus to our stop at St Mark’s Square. The journey takes you along the Grand Canal and under the Rialto Bridge. We stayed at the 4* Duodo Palace hotel right near the Teatro Fenice (Venice's theatre), just a 10 minute walk from St Mark’s Square the focal point of Venice. The beauty of Venice is that you can walk everywhere. I must admit it is not ideal at all for disabled guests or families with pushchairs as there are steps leading up to most of the little bridges that connect all the walkways over the canals. There are miles of shop lined walkways all leading out to a canal at some point. There are signs all over to point you in the right direction of Rialto or Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square). There are so many sights to see in Venice - the Basilica San Marco, Rialto Bridge, Bridge of Sighs, Doge's Palace and of course St Mark’s Square itself. A coffee in one of the cafes lining the square will set you back 8 euros but just a few metres away off the square you can have the same for 3 euros. All part of the Venice experience I guess! Coffee and 'people watching' is a favourite pastime of mine! A great place to enjoy the best views of Venice is at the top of The Bell Tower in St Mark’s Square. You take a lift up to the top and from this height of 97 metres you are able to take some truly wonderful photos! We enjoyed lunch at one of the restaurants lining the Grand Canal right by the Rialto Bridge. I would defiantly recommend this as the view is amazing. Just to sit and watch the daily workings of the city pass by on the Grand Canal is fascinating. We saw telecom boats, police boats, and boats carrying all sorts of goods and building materials as well as private water taxis crossing the waterways. A Gondola ride is a must. There is no point trying to haggle the price down as it seems set with all the Gondoliers! Its around 80 Euros for a 45 minute ride. Our Gondolier was very knowledgable and gave us an informative narrative as we passed through the little canals and out on to the Grand Canal. We found out all about the association of Cassanova with Venice and the house he once lived in amongst other things. If you are planning to take a loved one to Venice and wish to show your romantic side then make sure you take a padlock along! The Accademia Bridge is lined with padlocks that have been attached by couples in love and have their initials or names written on them. The saying goes that if you throw the keys into the Grand Canal below, you will have eternal love...ahhh. Once you have explored Venice itself, you may want to take a boat trip to one of the outer lying islands such as Burano, famous for its lace or Murano, famous for its glass. Venice becomes almost deserted after 10pm. There is little in the way of nightlife unless you can attend a classical music concert or there is an opera going on at the Teatro Fenice. There are a couple of little bars and also a Hard Rock Cafe which stayed open late. Venice is like nowhere else. I would recommend it for couples of any ages who like to wander and take in the ambiance of a place and see getting lost in the maze of alleys and streets as all part of the experience! This was my third visit to Venice and I still regard it as the most romantic city on earth and my personal favourite.

25 May 2011

On arrival into Orlando we were transferred to the Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. The hotel is styled like a grand safari lodge. Many of the rooms overlook the savannahs where you can see giraffes, zebra and gazelles. There are also lovely pool areas and a wide choice of dining venues. The hotel is just a 15 minute drive from the Animal Kingdom Theme Park and Magic Kingdom/Epcot etc. Are about 10 minutes away; all reached by the free Disney transportation system. There is something just so magical about Disney's Magic Kingdom! There are all the fast rides such as Space Mountain here among others, but the parades and characters you bump into just make the place so special. Disney's Animal Kingdom offers safari drives where you can see the amazing Tree of Life at the centre of the park, which depicts hundreds of animals carved into a huge tree trunk. Again there are the thrill rides here but also amazing shows such as The Lion King and 3D spectacular such as A Bugs Life. Epcot was one of my favourites. You have to try Mission Space for the ultimate thrill simulator ride. And the thing I loved here the most and had us all gasping in amazement, was Turtle Talk with Crush. The children were totally unfazed with how this turtle was interacting with them but we were all gobsmacked! Disney's Hollywood Studios has so much to offer including the terrifying Tower Of Terror Ride and there are also stunt shows and animation shows too. Your Disney Hopper passes also allow you access to the fabulous water parks such as Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach but unfortunately time only allowed us a fleeting visit but sadly no rides! After 4 nights at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, we headed to Universal and stayed at the wonderful Loews Royal Pacific. This hotel is just a short stroll through Citywalk entertainment complex to the Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure parks. The hotel also offers free water taxis to take you through to the parks. The hotel has a lovely lagoon style pool with a beach area and various restaurants and bars. Universal Studios was brilliant! It again features lots of thrill rides, gentle rides if you're not brave enough and also the shows with characters. Rip Ride Rocket and Revenge of the Mummy were fast and scary!! Men In Black and The Simpsons Ride just had me laughing! Of course a must is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Islands of Adventure!! This is amazing even if you are not familiar with Hogwarts and Harry Potter. Being a new attraction, the queues are quite long, but talk to me about ways to avoid these long queues! There are also two fab water rides here called Rip Saw Falls & Popeye where you cannot fail to get soaked! We then visited Seaworld - so so much to see and do here! There is a whole lot more than just Shamu the whale's show. For a start there is Manta - a lie flat rollercoaster; no, I wasn't brave enough! We found shows, displays and so much to see and learn at Seaworld. Across the road is Aquatica, the water park - this looked great but again we didn't have time to sample it. A lot of people don't think it’s worth the hour or so drive out to Busch Gardens but let me tell you - it is, especially if you are a rollercoaster fan! If my memory serves me right there are 7 here and I went on Sheikra, which travels at 70mph and has a 200ft vertical drop – not for the faint-hearted!!! There is also a safari park attached with shows, displays and crazy water rides! A visit to Discovery Cove is a great experience. There are beaches and palm trees, as much as you want to eat and drink whilst there and of course...the dolphins! The experience was wonderful and you get photos that you will treasure. A trip to Orlando would not be complete without some shopping! Try Mall of Millennia for your more upmarket stores and Abercrombie & Fitch, and Premium Outlets for some mega discounts! If you can, a visit to see the local basketball team, Orlando Magic is a real American experience. We visited a number of hotels on our trip so if I can help with a quote, give advice or book your park tickets, just let me know. I must just add one more thing - Orlando is not just for kids!!!